Compress



A. E. ELLIOT COMPRESS Sept. 27, 1938.

Original Filed July 10, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. E. ELLIOT Sept. 27, 1938.

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COMPRESS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed July 10. 1933 Patented Sept. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES COMPRES S Albert E. Elliot, Atlanta, Ga., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Chase Model Bale Gin Compress 00.

Application July 10, 1933, Serial No. 679,766 Renewed January 26, 1938 2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in compresses particularly adapted for compressing and baling cotton and other similar fibrous materials.

It is an object of the invention to provide a compress for compressing the cotton to a high degree of density and having means for forming the compressed cotton into bales of uniform shape and size.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above-mentioned character having sample taking means associated with the bale shaping box, whereby a true sample of the cotton forming the bale is taken during the formation of the bale.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above-mentioned character which is simple and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation and inexpensive tomanufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of the whole machine,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation view of one-half of the machine, with parts broken away,

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on lines 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig, 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on lines 44 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevational detail View of the bale shaping box,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view, showing the sections of the bale shaping box in separate relation,

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail View taken on lines 'l-! of Fig. 5,

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 9 with the parts in elevation, and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged front elevational detail 45 View of the sample taking means.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration, I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the letters A and B, denote two compresses built into a single unit, which 50 are operated successively to provide for the continuous compressing and baling of the cotton as it flows from the gin. As the construction of the compresses A and B are identical it is thought the description of one will suflice.

The frame of the compress consists of uprights 5, which support cross bar 6, to which the upperand lower longitudinal rails 1 and 8, are attached by bolts 9. Movable longitudinally of the rails is a frame comprising side bars I0, having at spaced intervals throughout their length lower bearings II, in which the axles I2 of the pressure rolls I3 are journale-d. The ends of the rolls l3 are provided with flanged wheels I4, adapted to ride on the lower rails 8 and impart a rotary movement to the rolls. There are eight rolls divided into sets of four rolls each and extending around each set of rolls are a series of endless belts l5, which are driven by the rolls and provide a continuous pressure surface for compressing the cotton. Idler wheels lG are disposed between the Wheels l4 and upper rails 1, so that when the pressure on the rolls l3, lifts the wheels I4 off the lower rails, the idler wheels by reason of their contact with the upper rails will continue to rotate the pressure rolls in the same direction. The idler wheels have axles I1, journaled in the bearings [8 in the side bars Ill and bearings IS in the inner bars 20.

The frame and rolls are reciprocated along the rails by connecting rods 2|, having oneend attached to the axle of one of the rolls, as at 22, the opposite end being connected to the wrist pin 23, eccentrically mounted on the flywheels 24, which are suitably supported on the uprights 5. The fiy wheels are driven by a suitable engine not shown.

A hydraulic press is disposed beneath the center of each machine consisting of an upright cylinder 25, mounted on the base 26, having connection with a suitable pump, not shown, by the pipe line 21. A piston 28 is mounted to reciprocate in the cylinder 25, carrying at its upper end the platen 29, which presses against the belts l5 of the rolls l3, when the piston is at its extreme upper stroke.

A chute 30 is mounted above the compresses A and B, leading from a drum type condenser, which delivers a continuous bat of cotton 33' to the machine. The bat of cotton moves down the chute between the feed rolls 3|, at the bottom of the chute and onto the pivoted deflector plate 32, which is operable to direct the bat of cotton onto either of the endless conveyor belts 33, leading to the compresses A and B. The conveyor belts 33 are trained around rollers 34 and 35 and mounted adjacent the lower roller 35 is a compressing roller 36. The bat of cotton moving on the conveyor belts passes between the rollers 35 and 36 and is delivered onto the inclined guard plate 31, mounted on the inner bars 20. A guard plate 3'! is provided for each set of pressure rolls, the plates being disposed over the adjacent end rolls of each set, so as to direct the bat of cotton down between the sets of rolls onto the platen 29. Upon reciprocation of the frame and pressure rolls the bat of cotton is laid in transverse folds on the platen and as the platen is subjected to a pre-determined pressure by the hydraulic mechanism, the folds of cotton are compressed between the platen and belts of the pressure rolls.

In order that the bales of cotton will be of uniform shape and size, a bale shaping box 38 is disposed around the platen 29 when in its extreme raised position. The box is formed of sections 39 and 40, each section being supported on the flanges 4| of the lower rails, by wheels 42, journaled on axles 43 extending from the outer side walls 43 of the sections. The sections of the box are detachably secured together at each side by a locking bar 44, pivotally attached to one section, as at 45, the ends 46 of the bar 44 being bent outwardly at right angles, for locking engagement with the keepers 41, attached to each section, when the locking bar is swung in a horizontal plane. During the initial compression of the folds of cotton, the box 38 shapes the bale, so that it is uniform in shape and side and after the bale is completed the locking bar 44 is unlatched and the sections of the box are then free to move away from the bale, so it may be wrapped and tied.

As more clearly shown in Figs. 8 and 9, one end of the box 33 is provided with sample taking means consisting of a series of. steel prongs 48 attached to the lower edge of the box, at spaced intervals, as at 49. The prongs are curved upwardly and inwardly at an angle, with their upper ends protruding through openings 50, in the end of the box, for engagement with the cotton as it passes through the box. A small quantity of cotton forming the bale is caught by the pointed ends of the prongs and is moved down the prongs into the sample bags which are supported by rings 52, attached to the lower edge of the box. The plurality of prongs take samples of the cotton from different sections of the bale being formed and when the bale is completed, the sample bags are removed, sealed and numbered to correspond to the number of the bale. A wrapping cloth 53 is placed over the platen 29, before forming the bale and is wrapped around the bale and tied before the bale is removed.

In operation, the bat of cotton is delivered from the gin condenser to the chute '30, which directs it between the feed rolls 3|, onto the deflector plate 32. The plate 32 may be swung to deflect the bat towards either of the compresses A and B and the conveyor belts 33 carry the bat to the compress being used. The bat passes from the conveyor belt between the rolls 35 and 36 and onto the guard plate 31, which directs it between the sets of pressure rolls I3, onto the platen 29, which is held under a predetermined pressure against the belts |5 of the pressure rolls by the hydraulic press. As the frame supporting the pressure rolls is reciprocated, the sets of rolls alternately lay the bat in transverse folds on the platen and as the rolls pass over the folds the cotton is compressed between the platen and belts of the rolls to, the desired density. During the initial compression of the cotton the folds pass through the shaping box 38, which surrounds the platen and as the cotton passes through the box, the prongs 48 take samples from the folds ofv cotton and deliver the samples to sample bags 5|. After the bale of the desired size is formed the deflector plate 32 is swung to cut the bat leading to the compress in operation and the bat from the gin condenser is then directed towards the other compress, which is set in operation. The bale having been formed, the sections of the box 38 are unlatched and moved towards the ends of the machine. The cloth 53 is then brought up between the two sets of pressure rolls and over the guard plate 31. The pressure rolls are then caused to move so as to draw the cloth tightly over the top of the bale and the bale is ready to be tied off in the customary manner and removed fromthe machine. At the time the bale is removed the sample bags 5| are tied, sealed and numbered to correspond to the number of the bale and serve to provide a true sample of the contents of the bale.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that certain changes in the shape, size and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:-

1. A compress comprising a bale shaping box, means for feeding a hat of cotton to said box, means for compressing the cotton in said box, and means for taking a sample of the cotton as it passes through said box, consisting of prongs attached to the outside of said box having their pointed ends extending through openings in the side of said box.

.2. A compress comprising a bale shaping box, means for feeding a bat of cotton. to said box, means for compressing the cotton in said box, means for taking a sample of the cotton as it passes through said box consisting of inclined prongs attached to the outside of said box having their pointed ends extending through openings in the side of said box, and means for supporting bags beneath the lower ends of the prongs for collecting the samples.

3. A cotton compress comprising a bale shaping box composed of separable sections, each section being mounted on the frame of the compress for independentstraight line movement thereof in a horizontal plane, means for feeding a hat of. cotton to said box, and means for compressing the cotton in said box.

4. A cotton compress comprising a bale shaping box composed of separable sections, each section being mounted on the frame of the compress for independent straight line movement thereof in a horizontal plane, means detachably securing the sectionslof said box together, means for feeding a bat .of cotton to said box and means for frame having longitudinal rails, bat forming mechanism movable longitudinally of the rails, a shaping box composed of divided sections, Wheels suspending each section of said box from the rails and adapted to move longitudinally thereof and means detachably securing the sections of said box together whereby each section may move independently in a straight path along the rails.

ALBERT E. ELLIOT. 

